Pump-pulling apparatus for wells

ABSTRACT

A compact, portable pump-pulling apparatus for lifting a sealed submersible pump from a well casing includes a frame adapted to be securely mounted to the well casing. A drum is rotatably mounted within the frame by an axle which has a slidably mountable handle at one end for rotating the drum. The drum has means for securing one end of a lifting cable thereto, the other end of which is attached to a seal located above the submersible pump. Winding the cable on the drum pulls the pump, seal and pipe from the well. Incorporated into the device are means to secure it to the head of the well casing thereby eliminating the necessity for a base structure to stabilize and support the pulling apparatus. The means also provides positive alignment with the casing.

[22] Filed:

ited States Patent [191 Smedley PUMP-PULLING APPARATUS FOR WELLS [76] Inventor: William L. Smedley, 245 Graham Road, N.W., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49504 Dec. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 208,218

[52] U.S. Cl. 254/139, 294/78 [51] Int. Cl. B66c 23/60 [58] Field of Search 254/139, 145; 294/78 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,762 12/1900 Johnston 254/139 2,189,665 2/1940 Kirby 254/145 2,665,012 1/1954 McCain 254/139 1,689,170 10/1928 Farmer 294/78 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 515,131 8/1955 Canada 254/150 June 26, 1973 161,132 6/1933 Switzerland 254/139 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Attorney-Price, I-Ieneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [57] ABSTRACT A compact, portable pump-pulling apparatus for lifting a sealed submersible pump from a well casing includes a frame adapted to .be securely mounted to the well casing. A drum is rotatably mounted within the frame by an axle which has a slidably mountable handle at one end for rotating the drum. The drum has means for securing one end of a lifting cable thereto, the other end of which is attached to a seal located above the submersible pump. Winding the cable on the drum pulls the pump, seal and pipe from the well. Incorporated into the device are means to secure it to the head of the well casing thereby eliminating the necessity for a base structure to stabilize and support the pulling apparatus. The means also provides positive alignment with the casing.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable pumppulling apparatus.

In a well which includes a seal as described in the US. Pat. application entitled WELL PIPE SEAL, Ser. No. 844,333, filed on July 24, I969, it has been necessary to use conventional metal pipe to permit the submersible pump and seal to be lifted and removed from the well casing for servicing or replacement. This is required when a seal is used since the seal must fit tightly against the inner surface of the well casing to provide adequate sealing and therefore resists removal from the well. The use of plastic water pipe is desirable because of its lower cost, continuous length, and low weight. However, plasticpipe cannot be used for pulling the pump and seal since it lacks the strength to sustain the tensile forces resulting when the pump and seal are pulled from the well. Therefore, when plastic pipe is used, a permanent high tensile strength cable is provided for removing the pump. A substantial pulling force is necessary to pull a pump from a well even when a seal is not used. The weight of the pump, the cable andithe water trapped in the pipe by the foot valve is substantial. When a seal is added, the resistance to removal is greatly increased. Thus it is necessary to employ a well pulling apparatus which will give the operator the needed mechanical advantage with sealed and unsealed wells employing plastic well pipe.

Conventional well pulling apparatus is similar to the well drilling apparatus and either has a derick section or boom which is relatively large and bulky. Once a well is drilled and operational, frequently a house extension, shrubbery, or other obstructions are placed near or adjacent the well opening thereby preventing the use of such conventional equipment for removing the submersible pump. Frequently also the ground is soft, and heavy pulling apparatus, which may be mounted to a truck, would ruin the lawn near the well. Not infrequently a structure is built over the well making the use of such equipment impossible. Thus a lightweight and portable well pulling apparatus is needed which can be carried into a fairly small working area around a well casing'to enable the user to pull a sealed submersible pump upwardly through the casing.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The well pulling apparatus of the present invention satisfies this need by providing a portable, lightweight, compact apparatus which attaches to a lifting cable secured to fastening means on the seal portion of the well. The lifting cable extends upwardly to the opening at the topof the casing and is attached to the present apparatus such that the pump and seal can be pulled wound such that the handle can be manipulated in relatively close quarters.

A further object of this invention is a device adapted for quick and simple attachment to a well casing, eliminating the necessity for a firm and level platform around the casing.

A still further object of this invention is such a device designed to be portable, erectable and useable by one man.

Apparatus embodying the present invention includes a frame adapted to be securely mounted to the head of a well casing and a rotatable drum mounted within the frame and adapted to receive a lifting cable. The drum includes means for securing the end of the lifting cable to the drum. An extendable and collapsible handle is mounted to the drum such that it can be rotated to wind the lifting cable onto the drum while simultaneously pulling the sealed submersible pump, and pipe from the well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken side-elevational view, partially in cross section showing the well pulling apparatus of the present invention in use with a sealed well;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side-elevational view, partially in cross-section of the cable fastening means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a well pulling apparatus 10 comprising a U-shaped base member 12 to which is attached an H-shaped frame 14 having a left vertical member 16, a right vertical member 18 and a cross member 20 coupled the'rebetween as shown. To the top of the left and right vertical members 16 and 18 are secured sleeve bearings 17 and 19, respectively, adapted to receive an axle 22 which is supported by the bearings such that the axle can freely rotate. A cable drum 24 comprising a central cylinder 26, a left flared end 28 and a right flared end 30 is mounted on the axle 22 between the left and right vertical members 16 and 18. In practice the cable drum 24 is mounted to the frame 14 by holding the drum into position and then passing the axle 22 through the'drum 24 and through the sleeve bearings 17 and 19. The drum 24 is then rigidly attached to the axle 22 by either welding the drum thereto or by means of a set screw, key or relationship. The member 32 is adapted to receive in slidable engagement a correspondingly rectangularshaped shaft 34 having a handle 36 at one end thereof, the combination forming a crank arm 38. The outer dimensions of the shaft 34 is somewhat smaller than the opening through member 32 such that the shaft 34 is allowed to slide within member 32 as indicated by the arrow 39 in FIG. 1. The handle 36 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 34 by means of a pin 35 (FIG. 2). A stop pin 40 at the end of the shaft 34 limits the travel of the shaft 34 in member '32 when the crank arm 38 is in its fully extended position as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments it may be desirable to include a set screw mounted to the member 32 such that it can be tightened against the shaft 34 to hold the shaft in a predetermined position relative to member 32 and axle 22.

As seen in FIG. 1, the base 12 of the well pulling unit is mounted on the surface 44 of the ground 42 and against the well casing 46.

The U-shaped base member 12 comprises a cross piece 21 having projecting edges 23 and 27 which extend between the vertical members 16 and 18. Edges 21 and 27 can be cut-away as shown in FIG. 2 at 13 to provide a seat for the casing 46. The edges 21 and 27 therefore provide two vertically spaced contact points between the pulling apparatus and the casing. Anchoring means such as chain 11 is positioned vertically intermediate the contact points 21 and 27. The semicircular pocket 13 (FIG. 2) aids in seating the base 12 against the casing 46. The chain 11 is passed around the casing 46 and secured to the base 12 by means of a pair of adjustable eye bolts 15. When the chain is pulled tight by the eye bolts, it holds the tool 10 securely to the casing.

Mounted within the well casing 46 below the top of the water table is a submersible pump 50. The water discharged by the pump is brought up by a pipe 52. A seal 55 of the type described in my previously described co-pending application is mounted to the pipe 52 a short distance above the pump. The seal 55 comprises a fitting having a pair of flange members 56 and 58 through which a section of the pipe passes. A sealing gasket 60 is compressed between the flange members 56 and 58. The gasket 60 has a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the casing 46 thereby forming a water and air tight seal around the periphery of the casing 46. In many well installations the pipe 52 above the seal is plastic.

An electrical cable 62 extends downwardly from the ground surface to supply energy to the submersible pump 50. A seal is provided where it passes through the seal 55 as described in my co-pending application. A lifting cable 64 is securely anchored to the seal 55 by fastening means 70.

The fastening means 70 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and comprises a stud 72 welded to the bottom flange 58 of the seal 55 and extending upwardly through the gasket 60 and the upper flange 66. Threadably mounted to the stud 72 is an elongated nut 74 threaded along its entire internal diameter. A fitting 76 is threadably mounted within the elongated nut 74 and a lock nut 78 is attached to the fitting 76 and tightened down to the elongated nut 74 to securely attach the fitting 76 to the nut 74. The lifting cable 64 fits within an aperture 75 of the hollow, elongated fitting 76 which is then swaged at the area 77 to securely hold the cable 64 thereto.

When the submersible pump 50 and seal 55 associated therewith is to be pulled from the well, the lifting cable 64 is attached to the cable drum 24 of the well pulling apparatus 10 which has been placed adjacent the casing 46 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The drum 24 includes means such as the aperture (FIG. 2) to secure the free end of the lifting cable 64. The drum 24 may include a second aperture 25' (FIG. 1) as well as slotted apertures 29 and 31 in the opposite ends 28 and (FIG. 2) as alternative means of securing the lifting cable 64 to the drum 24. Since the well pulling apparatus 10 is relatively compact it can be easily transported by a single operator to a well head and secured to the well casing and the cable 64 attached to the drum 24.

Once this has been accomplished the length of the crank arm 38 can be adjusted as space permits to provide the operator with the mechanical advantage necessary to overcome the frictional force of the gasket against the inner side walls of the casing 46. As shown in FIG. 1, the periphery of the circular gasket 60 is upwardly turned and provides substantial resistance to displacement which must be overcome. The upwardly turned edge of the gasket 60 will, once the pump and seal begin moving, turn downwardly thereby reducing the drag. The crank arm 38 may be fully extended for only a partial revolution of the drum 24, its length being adjustable as necessary by the operator to facilitate the removal of the pump 50, seal 55, and the well pipe 54. The well pulling apparatus 10 in conjunction with the fastening means which rigidly attaches the lifting cable 54 to the seal 55 thereby allows a single operator to withdraw the submersible pump and seal from the well casing.

The pump-pulling apparatus 10 can be manufactured from readily available steel channel members and is therefore relatively inexpensive. The fastener 70 is preferably made of stainless steel to resist corrosion. The lifting cable in one embodiment was plastic coated aircraft cable 3/16 inch in diameter and having a 4,200 lb. breaking strength. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the pump puller can be made which fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1'. For use in lifting a sealed submersible pump unit from a well casing, said pump unit including a submersible pump, a discharge pipe coupled thereto and a seal comprising a pair of spaced plates having a compressible gasket therebetween sealably coupled to said pipe above said pump, apparatus comprising: a lifting cable extending from ground level downwardly in the well casing to the pump unit; well pulling apparatus adapted to be removably coupled to the upper end of said lifting cable and comprising an upright frame with a rotatable cable winding drum supported thereon for providing a lifting force for said pump unit; and fastening means attaching the lower end of said cable to the seal of the sealed submersible pump unit, said fastening means comprising an elongated stud extending in sealed relationship through the gasket and plates of the seal and having a threaded portion projecting upwardly therefrom, an elongated threaded nut threaded on said upwardly projecting threaded end of said stud against the upper plate of the seal, and a fitting having a threaded portion secured to said threaded nut and an end remote from said threaded portion attached to said lower end of said lifting cable.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a pair of spaced uprights joined at lower ends by a horizontal crosspiece having a pair of vertically spaced projecting edges including a curved recess formed in each edge and in vertical alignment to seatably receive the well casing with the lowermost edge of said crosspiece resting on adjacent ground surface.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 and including means coupled to said crosspiece intermediate said vertically spaced projecting edges and extendable around the well casing to secure said frame to the casing.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said fitting comprises a sleeve having a threaded end se- 6 deformed inwardly to secure said cable thereto.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further including a crank arm having an adjustable handle cou- .cured to said elongated nut and a remote end for re- 5 Pled to Said drum for rotating Said drumceiving said lower end of said cable, said remote end 

1. For use in lifting a sealed submersible pump unit from a well casing, said pump unit including a submersible pump, a discharge pipe coupled thereto and a seal comprising a pair of spaced plates having a compressible gasket therebetween sealably coupled to said pipe above said pump, apparatus comprising: a lifting cable extending from ground level downwardly in the well casing to the pump unit; well pulling apparatus adapted to be removably coupled to the upper end of said lifting cable and comprising an upright frame with a rotatable cable winding drum supported thereon for providing a lifting force for said pump unit; and fastening means attaching the lower end of said cable to the seal of the sealed submersible pump unit, said fastening means comprising an elongated stud extending in sealed relationship through the gasket and plates of the seal and having a threaded portion projecting upwardly therefrom, an elongated threaded nut threaded on said upwardly projecting threaded end of said stud against the upper plate of the seal, and a fitting having a threaded portion secured to said threaded nut and an end remote from said threaded portion attached to said lower end of said lifting cable.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a pair of spaced uprights joined at lower ends by a horizontal crosspiece having a pair of vertically spaced projecting edges including a curved recess formed in each edge and in vertical alignment to seatably receive the well casing with the lowermost edge of said crosspiece resting on adjacent ground surface.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 and including means coupled to said crosspiece intermediate said vertically spaced projecting edges and extendable around the well casing to secure said frame to the casing.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said fitting comprises a sleeve having a threaded end secured to said elongated nut and a remote end for receiving said lower end of said cable, said remote end deformed inwardly to secure said cable thereto.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further including a crank arm having an adjustable handle coupled to said drum for rotating said drum. 